While I’m pretty sure most of my experience with blue hair will be a practice in modern minimalism and grunge, I of course have to take advantage of the opportunity for zany summer color play. These pink trousers always take me in a fun direction, and my new bold ‘do prompted me to slightly soften my go-to night-out look by ditching my usual fitted crop tops for a breezier, more delicate cut. I love how the top’s flowy hem falls effortlessly in line with the loose-fitting pants for a look that’s comfortable and simply chic. Note to all fashion saucers: the metallic clutch is your friend.

I’ve desperately wanted what social media has deemed “mermaid hair” for about five years now. Though I might tear my hair out entirely if one more person asks me “why” I’ve decided to dye it blue (just think really carefully for a second…that’s it! You got it—because I like it…), I am willing to answer a much more important question: why did I wait so long? As someone who adamantly believes that we should all style ourselves for ourselves—and kindly assume that that’s “why” anyone makes the sartorial choices they make—I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I let other people’s opinions postpone this change, even though I knew my desire was real. I dare not compare myself to Caitlyn Jenner, but the message her transformation sends applies to all of us: if you don’t live as your true self, you’ll live with regrets. I’m not saying I’m actually a mermaid on the inside, or that I want blue hair for the rest of my life, but I do believe if I hadn’t seized this opportunity just because a few people I love and respect didn’t love the idea, I’d have lost respect for myself.

In the week leading up to my hair appointment, the most popular question I received besides “why?” was, “Are you worried it will be harder to get dressed?” Well, not really, no. Even blondes and brunettes have to take their coloring into account when choosing clothes. I think because society still associates brightly colored hair with rebellious counter-cultures, people assume that I’ll have to push my always-eclectic style into one specific, radical corner in order to cater to this extreme hairstyle. Challenge accepted! Although I definitely do intend to dip into those more radical styles colorful hair commonly brings to mind, For however long I have blue hair, I’ll also aim to prove to my readers and followers that they can still relate to my style and draw inspiration from my looks, even if a head of blue hair is something they’d never consider. Let’s start with the outfit above. I won’t let anyone tell me it couldn’t be worn by someone with “normal” hair, because I’ve rocked this look as both a blonde and brunette, as well. For a chic daytime look, I’ve styled these sleek but funky pants with menswear-inspired shoes and an oversized tee. To transition to nighttime, I’d swap in a white tank and minimal black sandals, like the fabulous pair I just got at Joie.

This past Monday I attended the annual Boston Bloggers Meet & Greet at Audubonwith my kickass new crew of blogger friends. Between the drinks, the delicious snacks, and the infamous Danger Booth, everyone had a blast—and since the large majority of the group are female fashion bloggers, the event served as glorious evidence that the catty stigmas of fashion culture are so out. With that said, one still feels some pressure when dressing to impress a group of fellow fashionistas…

Unsurprisingly enough, I went to the event in my favorite silhouette: high-waisted bottoms and a cutaway crop top—and in my favorite color combination: plain old black and white. The skirt’s dramatic asymmetrical hem and the sweatery fabric of my summertime top bring new life to my go-to look, and I went with my bright blue Phillip Lim clutch and Jenny Bird collar necklace, courtesy of Rocksbox, to kick things up another notch. I chose a mint-turquoise shade of nail polish to offset the bag, and added a navy cocktail ring for good measure, also from Rocksbox. If you haven’t heard of Rocksbox, it’s basically like the Netflix of jewelry: with Rockbox, you can rent and try fabulous new jewelry by top trendsetting brands like Gorjana and House of Harlow, and you can purchase the pieces you love for discounted prices. All you have to do is fill out a quick but effective style survey, start keeping a wishlist, and expert stylists will send you three pieces per box in a prepaid envelope, so returns are no fuss. You can return and receive as many boxes as you want for just $19 a month, but you can also get your first month free by using the promo code FASHIONSAUCEXOXO.

As for the gorgeous polish, it’s by Somerville-based 365 Lacquer, a vegan and non-toxic polish company dedicated to making fun colors without harmful ingredients, and without testing on animals. I have to admit, I can be a bit calamitous (by which I mean careless), and have therefore stuck almost exclusively to gel manicures for the last two years, so I felt a bit wary of going back to regular polish. But 365 Lacquer promised a quick-drying, long-lasting product—and they weren’t lying. I’ll admit to a couple of chips within the first 48 hours, but they weren’t caused by faulty polish; so many consecutive gel manicures have left my nails in a slightly weakened state, but on my nails that have managed to stay strong, 365 Lacquer has stayed strong, as well. Plus, they just released a neon collection that’s sure to get you even more excited about summer.

One of my favorite things about dressing for this season is the way cheerful springy-summery prints and colors prompt me to create modern takes on retro styles. My paisley button-down, cuffed pants, platform loafers and matchy-matchy accessories all have a ’60s/’70s vibe, but details like the cropped cut of my blouse, stacked rings, and my oh-so-millennial “OMG”-embossed clutch bring the look up to date.

I visited the SoWa Vintage Market on Sunday, and the warm weather and colorful vintage racks inspired me to break out some funky springtime flare. Much to my delight, today has been even sunnier. After months of pretty much exclusively wearing layers of black, white, and gray, it felt really good to mix these bold prints and resurrect my straw hat and wooden flatforms. Since mixing prints is tricky business, I almost always pair a colorful one with a black and white pattern. To make the whole look more cohesive, I threw on this fabulous magenta cross body bag, which picks up the pinkish accents in my printed shorts. Silky fabrics and fringe accents really capture the spirit of spring/summer. If you want to freshen up your springtime beauty routine, try a swipe of pale pink lipstick, like “Obsessed” by Urban Decay.

Who doesn’t love Bill Murray? Not only is he an accomplished actor who’s consistently made audiences laugh and truly think since the ’70s, but he’s also proven to be one of the most mysterious and spontaneous members of the SAG. It won’t take you much time lurking on Reddit to discover elaborate stories about Bill Murray’s wild nights with unassuming fans who are left baffled by the actor’s nonchalant sense for adventure, and his apparent ability to disappear out of thin air. Between his hilarious days on SNL, to his tender moments with Scarlett Johansson in Lost in Translation, to his roles in the wacky world of Wes Anderson, I was so stoked to see that Piece Apparel included Mr. Murray in their “Old Man Crew” collection of sweatshirts, which also honors men such as Rod Stewart, Jerry Seinfeld, and Johnny Cash.

With respect to Bill’s affection for the unexpected, I decided not to pair my oversized sweatshirt with boxers or my TV remote, and instead dressed it up Sunday-brunch style. In my experience, brunch isn’t such an obviously glamorous occasion. It’s usually a group of hungover friends peeling themselves off their mattresses in the interest of good food, good stories from the night before, and, questionably enough, more drinks. That being said, Instagram and other social media outlets have deemed brunch the official favorite activity of “betches,” and, fortunately or unfortunately, an obligatory photo op. Brunch-obsessed consumers have prompted fashion magazines to address brunch outfits on the regular, and they typically suggest flouncy, frilly ensembles that seem more appropriate for an old-fashioned tea party or somebody’s baby shower. So, if you’re like me, and tend to wake up on Saturday and/or Sunday morning lacking the energy to mix joyful prints, or just want to be more comfy than you ever could be in a strappy sundress, try dressing up your favorite sweatshirt or tee with forgiving stretch-skinnies, a statement bag, and a bold lip. (A good shade of lipstick and big sunnies are the best tools for looking polished when you’re feeling less-than.) I think graphics with a sense of humor, like these other witty tops by Piece Apparel, make the perfect palette for a look that’s chic, but not too serious, which is exactly how brunch should feel when you’re doing it right. For those who feel confident in their styling abilities, add a statement necklace or a Peter Pan collar to further elevate your look. As for shoes, go with something comfortable but sleek. While I personally find these ALDO heeled sandals light as air, if the idea of walking in heels after a long night out makes you want to crawl back under the covers, just reach for your favorite pair of ballet flatsor slides.

All street-style enthusiasts know that while Coachella Music Festival is, in fact, a music festival, fashion has come to be the soul of the scene. As social media explodes with photos of Coachella fashionistas, it’s impossible not to feel inspired—by which I mean suffer extreme fashion FOMO. But temperatures are finally rising here in Boston, and there are easy ways to incorporate Coachella style into your everyday East-Coast attire without looking like you’re in costume (or preparing to do drugs).

Snapshots from Coachella will show that many of the most stylish festival attendees have ditched intense neons and instead infused the obligatory festival hippie-chic style with a more muted, ’90s-inspired palette, which caters extremely well to translating these looks into real-life outfits. The overall aesthetic has a bewitched vibe: lightweight black and white fabrics with lace and eyelet details, chokers and lots of layered jewelry…For more inspiration, look to the 1996 cult classic movie The Craft, in which four rebellious, witchcraft-practicing Catholic school girls expertly combine their school uniforms with elements of ’90s grunge and nods to Stevie Nicks. This outfit is all about striking a balance between festival favorites and everyday staples; I give my crop top a dose of class by layering it with a white silk blouse. My tattoo choker and long coin necklace evoke the witchy festival spirit, while my silver collar, sophisticated clutch, and simple black booties elevate the look enough to take it out to brunch or for drinks. The result: No mo’ FOMO.